08 Oct DHA Supports Healthy Children’s Brain Function
DHA during pregnancy enhancing infant neural development/cognitive function
Aside from being a major structural lipid of the brain, studies have demonstrated that DHA enhances brain development.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial, pregnant women consumed 300 mg DHA 5 times a week (n=14) or placebo (n=15) from 24 weeks of gestation until delivery. Tests of problem solving and recognition memory were administered to infants at 9 months of age. Treatment had significant effects on the performance of problem-solving tasks
A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial of the effect of high potency DHA fish oil during pregnancy has found beneficial effects for cognitive development, particularly eye-hand co-ordination. Pregnant women (n=98) received supplementation with fish oil (2.2g DHA plus 1.1g EPA/day) or olive oil from 20 weeks gestation until delivery. Their infants (n=72) were assessed at 2.5 years of age. Children in the fish oil supplemented group (n=33) attained a significantly higher score for eye-hand coordination (mean score 114, SD 10.2) than the placebo group (n=39, mean score 108, SD 11.3; p=0.021, adjusted p=0.008). Eye-hand coordination scores correlated with w-3 PUFA levels in cord blood erythrocytes (EPA: r=0.320, p=0.007 and DHA.
A review of eight randomised controlled trials comparing cognitive development in controls and in children who had received fish oil supplementation was used to extrapolate the results to prenatal intake. It was estimated that increasing maternal DHA intake by 1g/day increases a child’s IQ by 1.3 points.
Also consistent with evidence suggesting a link between DHA and cognitive development in infancy is the study where toddlers of mothers with higher levels of DHA at birth showed more mature developmental profiles on single-object attention measures and more optimal performance on distractibility assessments than toddlers from mothers with lower DHA.
Naturopathy Can Help With the Following Childhood Conditions
Fiona provides tailored health plans based on a multitude of factors relevant to your child’s symptomology (how they are feeling), pathology (how their body is responding), plus dietary and lifestyle factors.
- ✅ Digestive complaints – constipation, diarrhoea, loose stools, pain or bloating
- ✅ Allergies and allergic conditions – such as asthma, eczema or hayfever
- ✅ Poor Immunity – recurring colds or ear infections
- ✅ Skin Conditions – rashes, eczema, acne, pimples or allergic reactions
- ✅ Moods – anxiety, depression or mood swings
- ✅ Food Intolerances – identifying food reactions
- ✅ Food Allergies – identifying food reactions
- ✅ Growth and development issues – fussy eaters or nutritional malabsorption
- ✅ Behavioural challenges – ADHD or others
- ✅ Energy – poor energy or chronic fatigue
- ✅ Picky Eaters – fussy eaters
- ✅ Sleep – trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
What happens in a children’s nutritionist consultation
During your consultation, Fiona will seek information about your pregnancy, birth and post birth experiences. This will provide an integrated view to give a full picture of the foundations of your child’s health status. You can expect to leave your consultation with a thorough understanding of the potential contributing factors of the presenting symptoms. Fiona will provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates possible herbal/nutritional medicine, dietary/lifestyle recommendations, recipes and handouts. Plus an overview of the consultation so you feel empowered to care for your child’s wellbeing with Fiona’s guidance. At The Children’s Naturopath, Fiona Stock an expert in childhood health, she understands children’s needs and considers working with kids and teens to be an absolute joy. She finds that children typically respond to naturopathic treatment very well – bouncing back to good health in no time. And she treasures the opportunity she has to teach kids about their bodies and engage them in their health journey, setting them up with strong foundations and knowledge for life.
Meet Children’s Nutritionist – Fiona Stock
Fiona is skilled at getting to the heart of childhood health challenges – helping to initiate lasting change.
FIONA STOCK | PAEDIATRIC NATUROPATH & CHILDREN’S NUTRITIONIST
Fiona treats the following conditions:
- ✅Poor Immunity
- ✅Poor Focus & Concentration
- ✅ Behavioural Problems
- ✅ ADHD
- ✅ Depression
- ✅ Anxiety
- ✅ Food Allergies
- ✅ Food Intolerances
- ✅ Constipation
- ✅ Diarrhoea
- ✅ Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- ✅ Tummy Pain
- ✅ Eczema
- ✅ Asthma
- ✅ Obesity
- ✅ Auto-Immune Disease
- ✅ Recurring Infections
- ✅ Fussy Eaters
- ✅ Sleep Issues
- ✅ Plus many more…
Online Learning | Children’s Health | Children’s Nutritionist
Would you like a consultation with me at a fraction of the cost? My online learning classes are jam packed with more advice than I provide in a face-to-face appointment. It’s evidence-based naturopathic wisdom coupled with the latest scientific research on kids health I’ve successfully shared with clients over my 20+ year career.
I’ve also included cheatsheets, checklists, nourishing recipes and 25 page book of class notes.
You will learn:
- ✅ Understand the cause if common childhood conditions (eczema, poor immunity, food allergies, food intolerances, poor focus & concentration, ADHD, behavioural problems).
- ✅. Supporting immune function to help support allergic conditions.
- ✅. Support optimal brain function.
- ✅. Healthy Eating Plan – including portion size for each age-group.
- ✅. Natural medicine recommendations,
- ✅. Plus much more…
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